Faux Painting Ideas

Stippling Effect

Faux painting is a great way to add texture and interest to any wall of your home. There are many different techniques for faux painting, from easy projects to those best left to the professionals.

This simple stippling effect is made by stippling or tapping the stippling brush with the glaze over a base coat of a lighter color to produce a subtle wall texture.

Dragging

Dragging can be a subtle or dramatic method of faux painting, depending on what you drag with. Plastic bags or wraps that are twisted around themselves are dragged through the glaze in a repetitive manner to create the look. This dramatic finish was created with a large, heavy rag.

Ragging

Another method of using a cloth or rag to create a faux-paint effect is ragging. Use the rag to wipe off or move the glaze around the wall; the various creases and twists in the rag will leave behind different textures on the walls.

Create a pattern in the paint by using the same sweeping motion and direction throughout the same area.

Rag Rolling

Rag rolling is a simple way to get a subtle texture to the wall. In rag rolling, the rag is dipped into the glaze, then twisted and wrung out before being rolled onto the wall. It leaves behind a subtle, repetitive texture behind.

Sponging

Sponging is a simple method of adding texture and color to a wall that any DIY homeowner can take on.

Paint the wall the base color, then dip your sponge into the glaze. Sponge the glaze onto the wall in an overlapping pattern. As the sponge picks up more or less glaze, it will vary the pattern.

You can sponge one or several colors and vary sponge sizes and textures to get different looks.

Strie Painting

Strie painting or the wood grain effect is a great way to add lines and depth to your wall. Once the wall has been painted, roll the glaze on in an even coat, then drag a comb or another textured item through the glaze.

Color Wash

Giving your wall a color wash is a very simple -yet effective- way to get a faux paint effect.

Paint the wall a solid, lighter color, then thin a darker color with glaze. Roll the glaze over the base color, letting the roller overlap itself for a washed effect.

Faux Tile

Creating faux tile is a fun way to add texture and dimension to any room of your home.

Use painter's tape to block off the separate areas or to add "grout lines." You can paint the "tiles" a solid color, or use a faux painting technique, such as strie painting in different directions to create a unique look.

Faux Marble

Marble is a beautiful and unique natural stone with lots of variation and subtle veining. Create a faux marble wall using paint and a few different faux painting techniques.

Because marble is so varied, you can color wash, drag or rag roll the paint, then go back in with an artist's paintbrush and a tertiary color to add the veins.

Leather

A faux leather look adds rich elegance to any room of your home. Once the base color has been rolled onto the wall, apply the glaze coat with several pieces of chamois that have been rolled and tied together. The soft texture of the chamois will give your walls the softly mottled look of distressed leather.

Venetian Plaster

Venetian plaster is a technique best left to the professionals, but one that leaves beautiful results. Pigments are added to the plaster before being troweled onto your wall, giving the wall literal depth and shading as well as dimension through color.